'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' director JJ Abrams says 'Half Life' and 'Portal' movies are on the way

Abrams has said 'Half Life' and 'Portal' movies are 'under development.'

Even though fans of the iconic video game franchise "Half Life" are yet to receive any news regarding the long-awaited "Half Life 3," it seems they finally have something hopeful to look forward to.

JJ Abrams, who directed the seventh movie in "Star Wars" franchise, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," has confirmed movies on "Half Life" and another iconic video game by production company Valve, "Portal," are "under development."

In an interview with IGN, when asked whether there are any updates regarding "Half Life" and "Portal" movies, Abrams said he can't really tell, "But they are in development and we have got writers, and we're working on both those stories."

Abrams first expressed interest in making movies on the two video games at DICE 2013, when he and Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve, announced partnering up to create games and films, the most notable being "Half Life" and "Portal."

According to Slash Film, Newell had said earlier any adaptation — movies, series or games — of a Valve property would be done by the studio itself, and hence there is a significant possibility that the script for the potential movies on "Half Life" and "Portal" would be written by the Valve's employees and individuals who have worked on the respective games.

A Collider report said even though movie adaptations of video games didn't perform well in previous years — examples being "Max Payne" and "Hitman" — they are on a constant rise as Duncan Jones' "Warcraft" and Michael Fassbender's "Assassin's Creed" are all set to hit the big screens across the world this year.

Besides, a movie based on the award-winning video game "The Last of Us" has also been announced, and a "Tomb Raider" reboot is in works too, said the website.

Though much is yet revealed of "Half Life" and "Portal" movies, fans can expect big news coming either from Abrams or Newell soon.